Canvey

Update

There have been a lot of thefts from motor vehicles in the last few weeks. In most cases the vehicles were left secure and were actively broken into. However, last week when one of our PCSO’s was on a late shift he patrolled the area around Canvey Heights. There was a vehicle parked there, completely unattended with the driver’s window left wide open. The officer did wait for some time for the owner to return but had to leave to attend something else. Please do ensure that when you leave your vehicle unattended that it is secure! This time of year we have all been used to keeping windows closed due to the cold weather and suddenly it warms up and we open everything! Please take a moment to pause and remember to close them again when leaving your vehicle. This advice can also be applied to your home too. Again, we are now suddenly opening windows after weeks of bad weather and it is very easy to forget to shut them. Let’s keep the vehicle thieves and the burglars at bay!
We were informed of a scam last week. Potentially it could cost you a lot of money so please be aware. Someone called a member of public claiming to be a Police officer from Canvey Police Station. The caller stated that Police had found a bank/credit card and that to establish we had contacted the correct owner we required PIN number and other personal details. Essex Police DO NOT carry out this practice. Fortunately the victim was astute enough to hang up and called Canvey Police. They actually spoke to the officer whose name had been used. That officer was able to confirm that he had not called the victim! Please don’t fall foul of this or any other similar scam. If anyone calls you asking for bank or card details over the phone it is most likely to be a scam. Please, please don’t get caught out.

Residents urged to secure outbuildings

Police are urging Essex residents who own outbuildings to make a New Year’s Resolution and think security for 2013. Garages, sheds and barns are susceptible to the opportunist burglar or career criminal as a result of their construction or position. Many of the 2012 break-ins could have been prevented had owners secured these buildings with adequate locks. On garage doors, security can be improved by adding locking bolts to both sides of the ‘up and over door’ or a garage door defender in the ground in front of the door.
With sheds and some barns, depending on the construction, padlock hasps should be coach-bolted and plated to the frame and door with a ‘close-shackle’ padlock also used for extra measure. In addition, hinges can be unscrewed so their security should also be thought of. Some items within buildings can be secured using good chains attached to a ground anchor.
Crime Reduction Advisor Stephen Armson-Smith said: "It’s also worth fitting an alarm to the shed or garage, good signage regarding security systems in operation and adding security lighting. Shed alarms are relatively inexpensive and available from most hardware stores or at reduced prices through Neighbourhood Watch groups.”
Security products that are fit for purpose can found by looking for the ‘Secured by Design’ or ‘Sold Secure’ logos or on their websites http://www.securedbydesign.com/or http://www.soldsecure.com/
Further crime prevention advice can be sought by contacting Essex Police’s local crime reduction advisors on 101.

An empty house between 4-9pm looks empty, an open invitation.
Look around and see how you can make it hard for burglars.
• Have an alarm fitted
• Leave lights on a timer switch.
• Put your radio on a talking station.
• Fit dusk to dawn security lighting on the outside of your property.
• Lock your garden gates-ensure bolts cannot be reached either over or under the gate.
• Grow spiky bushes near any unprotected entry to your garden, put non drying paint on fences, and keep cat and others out of your garden with cat spike runners along the top of fences.
• Lock and alarm your shed
• Postcode your garden equipment.

Post-code your property; itemise your property by recording serial numbers and take photos of expensive items including jewellery.

Take care when out shopping NEVER leave bags on view, Thieves will be tempted even by any loose change they can see.
• Lock goods in the boot ; never return to vehicle to put away shopping then walk away.
• Lock and activate alarm.
• Park in a well lit area. And ladies always have your car keys in your hand when returning to your vehicle.
• Take all Sat-Nav holders and stickers off windows, leave no evidence there might be a Sat-Nav in the glove compartment
Police are warning users of social media websites such as Facebook to check their security settings after burglars targetted and unoccupies home . A house in Wisbeach was ransacked and computers, jewellery, DVDS and a purse were stolen as a result of the homeowners being monitored via their Facebook account.
PLEASE be extra vigilant when adding personal details to these sites.

Bogus Salespeople
We have recently had reports in our area of people knocking on residents' doors offering to repair driveways and or that there is a problem with your roof. If you have somebody knock on your door, always ask for identification. If you think they are suspicious please call us on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Cold Calling
Anyone being cold called by security companies are strongly advised to terminate the call and report the caller to Consumer Direct on 08454 040506. Under no circumstances at all should an appointment be made for a security survey to be carried out - those who disregard this advice stand a very good chance of being ripped off.

Keep an eye on your neighbour’s property; remember we are just a phone call away. Also please remember to lock and secure your car and put your keys in a safe place within your house and out of view
If you see any suspicious activity, please call us. If something is happening that looks odd, or out of the ordinary, there may well be something going on. We would rather attend to investigate at the time, than hear from victims in the morning.

SatNav's - Please remember to remove these from your vehicles overnight, there are still thefts being reported from residents who have left them in their cars overnight. It is also best not to enter your address into the satnav under the title of home, (input your address but give it another titile). Say for example your vehicle was parked at a shopping centre and its was subsequently stolen - all the thief would have to do would be select 'Home' from the Satnav directory and it would reveal where you live- taking them straight to your unattended home..

Police are warning users of social media websites such as Facebook to check their security settings after burglars targetted and unoccupies home . A house in Wisbeach was ransacked and computers, jewellery, DVDS and a purse were stolen as a result of the homeowners being monitored via their Facebook account.
PLEASE be extra vigilant when adding personal details to these sites.

We are here to listen to your problems and offer help and advice in how best to address them. Canvey is and will remain a very nice place to live with low levels of crime. Remember YOU TALK , WE LISTEN and together we combat crime.
If you do have any concerns and it is a non emergency matter please contact us on the Neighbourhood Policing phone Tel: 07791 680413 from 08:00hrs- until Midnight .